Concluding 'This I know...my assurance.

Following on from last week I share my final testimony to Christ’s faithfulness and my, indeed our great hope. I’ve taken Paul’s quote in 2 Timothy 1:12 to explain my experience and trust in His grace. Last week I finished the blog with ‘He is able’. That begs the question ‘to do what?’ 

To keep that which I’ve committed: Whilst this is true the passage actually speaks of what He has committed to Paul, and to us. That sacred trust, the gospel commission was given to men and women best described at pottery vessels. In their own strength they would be unable to endure what was to come upon them. Paul’s testimony at the end of a faithful and turbulent missionary life is here. God is able to keep, safeguard, fresh constantly and watch over what He has entrusted to His people.

What a relief. With all my heart I want to be found faithful. With all my strength I want to succeed. With an understanding of ‘me’ I know that I am not able to do that! Words from a favourite hymn says it all ‘without Him I can do nothing, without Him I’ll surely fail…’ When I bow before my Lord and Saviour the fact of my being in His presence is due simply, solely to Him and His faithfulness and power.

Unto Him against that day: What day? The most obvious choice would be His second coming. When that happens our being ‘in Him’ and with Him is our security. I wonder however, if ‘that day’ could also be applied to the day of our death? Paul was in hourly expectation of being martyred. When that time arrived Christ’s role as the Good Shepherd would come into play. He would walk with His servant through the valley of the shadow of death and into the presence of the Father.

That too is my comfort. I look forward to the return of Christ Jesus to rule, to judge, to bring on righteousness. I realise that it is more likely that there will be some form of funeral service for me. I do not look forward to my dying, although I have prepared for it. What I do look forward to is knowing the promise of Scripture, I shall see Him face to face.

So, in this my final blogspot, can I ask you, “Do you know Jesus the Christ as your

personal saviour and Lord? Do you have the knowledge of His grace and forgiveness? Are you assured, on the authority of His word, that you will see Him when your life is over?

 

'What does it (The Scriptures Jesus used) say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart." (that is, the word  of faith that we proclaim.); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says,  "No one who believes in Him will be ashamed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-13.

 

Don't delay. Give the Lord your call now. For today, right now is the day of salvation. Make it your day!

©Ray Hawkins February 18 and 25, 2018.

Shalom!

 

 

 

Christ's return, not on the Horizon!

Earthquakes, wars and political upheaval beneath a (promoted) climate change has aroused prophesy gurus. Of late, my T.V. preachers are all warning that Jesus return to earth is imminent. Some of them conclude with a spiel to get their free book for more details.

Now, I’m deeply committed to the reality of Christ’s return to earth to set up His promised Kingdom. However, if the Bible is reliable (I believe it is), then as preachers, teachers and disciples we need to inform people according to what it says. This requires not avoiding the straight out Biblical timeline with its insights into characters, events and nations. 

To say Jesus might return tonight or this year or soon will get some agitated or switched on to ‘religion.’ When it doesn’t eventuate the band of scoffers grow. So, let’s be honest in our presentations. There are certain prophetic events and personnel which haven’t yet stepped onto the world stage. Who knows, they might be out there somewhere, but they haven’t stepped up and out.

What do I mean?

If the book of Revelation is taken seriously (and it should be) then the following (just a short list) have to be operational. In Revelation 11 there is mention of the Jewish temple being in existence. It is being desecrated by antichrist forces. Jesus in Matthew 24 defined this as the setting up of the ‘desolating sacrilege’ as foretold by Daniel. When and how is unknown. However, it will be built as Jesus foretold and 2 Thessalonians 2 supports. At the moment Islam is attempting to deny Israel any right to the former temple mount. This must and will fail. Rebuilding of the temple will take place sometime, date unknown.

Daniel 12 talks about a time of trouble never before experienced on earth. Its duration is in two sections of 3 1/2 years. Although worldwide, its epicentre will be the land of Israel. During this time there will be 144,000 specially prepared Israeli evangelists of impeccable character and faith. They will be speaking about Jesus the Messiah. No attempt to deny them their tribal heritage or have a false religious group claim them will succeed. Revelation is clear, uncomplicated and definite in explaining who they are.

Add to all the above, wars, rumours of wars, apostasy, earth and heavens in upheaval plus a rampant antichrist this is horrid time. Revelation, and other prophetic Scriptures point to events not yet appearing on the horizon. They might be just out of sight but when they appear those alive at that time will be in no doubt the countdown has begun.

Am I presenting a case for ignoring the Biblical teaching about Christ’s return? Certainly not! What I am trying to do is put His return into its rightful setting. That setting deals with Israel and not the Church. Therefore, as Christians we should be living with a more pressing and expectant hope. That hope is plainly set out in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15. It is that wonderful time of meeting Jesus in the air. When that happens 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10 takes place. It is accounting time, not for salvation but for being awarded the garland for faithfulness. And remember this, the Lord Jesus could very well call anyone of us out of this life and into His presence at any moment. Therefore, we must be ready to meet Him, face to face!

The Bible is insistent concerning Christ’s return. Those of us committed to the author and His message are under a burden to rightly explain it. As James 3 plainly says, we who are teacher are under greater judgement for what we teach.

To any who read this let me say, “Check out what I’ve written!” Sit down and read the Scriptures for yourself and let their plain, straightforward words speak to your heart.

©Ray Hawkins Nov. 20^th 2016.

Jesus is no pacifist!

War is sometimes necessary to curb, control and conquer evil. This is so evident with such devilish groups as IS and the Islamic Caliphate rampaging in the Middle East. We may wish it wasn’t so but we know they, and others, will not be stopped by reason but by force. The Bible revealed God commissioned men such as Joshua to deal with the evil by the sword. In Canaan were seven nations corrupt and degenerate who had despoiled the Lord’s special ‘patch.’ (Genesis 15:1-21) It is often overlooked that these nations were given over 500 years of grace to change their ways. They didn’t! God would need to bring judgement upon them.

There is a principle evident here. Grace precedes judgement. Evidence of that is Rahab and her family in Joshua 6. How she heard of Yahweh’s intentions and what brought her to faith is not amplified. This woman grasped God’s grace and was, with her family, spared the sword. How many others at that time had a similar opportunity but spurned it we will never know.

I find it intriguing how some spruik the notion that the God of the Old Testament is a warmonger. They then compare Him with Jesus in the Gospels who talks about love and loving your enemies. In actual fact The Yahweh (Jehovah) of those 39 books is the Jesus of the Gospels and the other New Testament books. In a later blog I’ll show some of the unbreakable links.

God has surrounded Himself with numerous titles. The one most fitting for this blog is the title ‘Lord God of Host’. It is a military term. His legions are the angels of Heaven. When Jesus was taken to be crucified He declared that with a command they would come to His aid, immediately! Matthew 26:53. Once again grace preceded justice. Our Lord, however, forewarned His antagonists and supporters in Matthew 24 of events which would lead to the final showdown between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness.

Christmas steals our hearts with its message and images of a baby in the manager. In Micah’s prophesy (5:2-15) relating to this event we stop at verse two and often try and ignore the rest. Christ’s coming as a baby to live amongst Israel and be delivered as a ransom in fulfilment of Scripture is love made tangible. The message He gave His disciples was and is of grace offered to be received by faith. Should that be spurned they put themselves on a war footing. This is highlighted by the angels to the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:8-11). When the Lord returns He will comes on the clouds and to the same mountain from which He ascended to Heaven. Zechariah 14:4. Speaks of that event. Those angels were verifying the fact that the period of grace will end one day. When that happens the Lord Jesus returns as the Lord God of Hosts.

What then elevates Jesus from out of the ranks of tyrants? What lifts Him above all the mythological gods and such claimants to allegiance as blood thirsty and cruel Allah? A number of facets from His revealed character makes Jesus more than a noble warrior, more than a crusading general and more than God with a mission of wrath. From the Scriptures Jesus is shown to be holy, without sin and this saturates everything He is and does. His love (which we enjoy dwelling upon) is holiness expressed. His mercy is holiness extended to its utmost limits (for which we should be thankful). Therefore, when He makes war on those who trample underfoot His Name, desecrate His temple, murder His followers, deny His existence, cross and resurrection, His wrath is not simply an emotional vendetta. It is Justice, controlled by holiness and dictated by giving His opponents time to repent. This allows them to accept the grace of forgiveness. But, when Christ’s patience runs out, His sword of judgement will be raised. Rest assured it too is controlled by holiness.

Individuals and nations rant and rave against the Lord God revealed in the Bible. Religions such as Islam dishonour, discredit and disfigure the Jesus unveiled in the Bible. They place themselves on a collision course with Christ Jesus.

Such a meeting will either take the moment after death or in the ‘valley of decision,’ Armageddon!

God has the last word and what it will be depends upon our trust in Jesus who entered our world to save us from His sword of judgement. His holy patience has its own timetable which allows you and others to own Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. But always remember this, His holy love and mercy doesn’t make Him a pacifist. Neither will it allow Him to bend His word or be bribed by so called ‘good deeds.’ His holiness motivates justice to gird on His sword to conquer and eliminate evil. Until that day the Gospel of Grace unleashed at the cross is offered. To shun the message is to place yourselves under the threat of the sword. That time is drawing ever nearer when it will be wielded.

 

©Ray Hawkins July 2015

God will take delight in Jerusalem

You (Jerusalem) shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her. Isaiah 62:4.

Jacob’s children are chained to this city and the land of Israel. Through nearly two thousand years of dispossession and oppression their Passover lament was ‘Next year in Jerusalem.’ Nations have ravaged the city throughout history. Today it is still a centre for international dilemma and anxiety. Jesus wept over it. At the same time He knew it had a brighter destiny. Matthew 23:37-39.

The story of Jerusalem is a love story between the Covenant keeping Lord and a fickle and faithless people. Why would the Lord endure such unfaithfulness and disobedience? ‘For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.’ (Romans 11:29. We should take heart from this and the Lord’s patience and discipline on Jerusalem. Why? Because the Church isn’t any better behaved! Also, there are many of us who have been wanderers from the ‘straight and narrow path.’ We enjoy stressing the wonder of the promise nothing is able to separate us from the Love of God in Romans 8:35-39. On what do we base such an awesome hope? The apostle Paul gives an unequalled illustration in Romans 9-11. It is the Lord God’s unchanging commitment to Israel based upon His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Jerusalem has a great destiny foreshadowed in Scripture. Why then did Jesus weep over it? Because He knew their obstinate, unbelieving heart and the hatred of the Gentile Nations would bring calamity before fulfilment. But the suffering Servant’s love for His city knew the prophetic writings. Did you grasp the significance of two words in the opening verse?  ‘No more’. When you read the prophets take note of these and similar words such as ‘never’ ‘never again’. They are a statement of the Suffering Servant having redeemed men and women ushering in the final aspect of His mission. The Messiah will reclaim Israel as His own. To do that Jesus Christ will be the Lord God of Hosts, the Warrior Lord.

You will understand such unmistakeable declarations do not go unchallenged. Unbelief mixed with hardened, corrupt and deceived minds will seek to occupy and destroy Jerusalem.  Such opposition endeavours to deny the Lord the city praised as the place of the great King. (Psalm 48) The sad laughter of God in Psalm 2 over their folly is recorded to warn against joining their ranks.

Isaiah 62:1 pictures the Lord God as restless. He has His own timeline for the coming events. However, the Lord waits impatiently for it to be time. He delays so that all the preparations will be completed. As with the first coming being in the fullness of time, so it will also be with His return. God’s ‘delay’ is giving men and women round the world time to move to His side. Jesus couldn’t put it any plainer than ‘if you’re not with me you are against Me.’ (Matthew 12:30)

Isaiah’s picture of the Lord God’s plan for Jerusalem is to make ‘her a crown of beauty … and a ‘royal diadem in the hand of your God.’ This will not be a secret affair It will be the God of Heaven’s vindication of His choice in placing His name in that city. We live in a World of instant news. We read of the volatile situations in the Middle East and scratch our heads about how things will ever work out. Unbelief will tell us the Bible has it wrong. It is too impossible to accept the future portrayed for Jerusalem and the Land. People said that about Bethlehem and Calvary and the return of Israel to the Land. We do not have to understand the ‘How’ but we must stand firm on the ‘Will.’

‘Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts shall be called the holy mountain.’ (Zechariah 8:3) ‘I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people…’ (Isaiah 65:19) (Emphasis added)

 

 

When Easter's climax takes place

The triumph of Jesus as the Christ at the Jewish Passover festival, which Gentiles call Easter, has not reached its climax. The resurrection of Jesus verified the Bible and His credentials as the Lord, the Christ. It also declared Him to be the Saviour with power to forgive and offer believers in Him a new beginning,a new hope and a new destiny. All that is available now. However, there are other factors still to be resolved from Christ Jesus' resurrection. He must return again to set up His kingdom and bring peace to earth. This is called Christ's second coming. There are many facets to this glorious hope.When He returns it will be as the Lord God of Hosts, the warrior Lord.

Most teaching, preaching and debating concerning the Second Coming of Christ revolves around Armageddon scenarios. Often overlooked, is a much more heart–warming doctrine and expectation. The Lord Jesus comes to enjoy His people. When will that take place? ‘On that day’ presumably the same period of time Jesus Christ comes as the Warrior Lord. To one group He wields the sword. To the other He comes with the victor’s garland.

Jesus Christ the Warrior Lord comes to be glorified.
How?
We know not the details only the guest list.
They are His set apart ones. Other translations say ‘holy ones.’ Here is another difference between those destined for the sword and those for the garland. Holiness! This cannot be self generated. It must be bestowed. Without it no one will be able to see the Lord let alone abide in His presence. (Hebrews 12:14) Here again is another cause for glorifying the Lord for He has done it to us. ‘You who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he (Christ Jesus) has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him. (Colossians 1:21-22)

Christ's followers are under severe attack around the globe simply for being Christians. The Lord feels their pain and will not forget their faithfulness when He returns. Neither will Jesus ignore bringing vengeance upon those who who slaughter and defile His people. Justice will be done. Also at that time the Lord Jesus will honour those who have endured such oppression from across the centuries. Yes,they have already rested from their labours and trials but await their vindication. At this time the Lord’s combined people join in the celebration of their Saviour, Lord and God. For the first time the redeemed will join together and make the universe resound with their joy in Jesus their Christ. So many of them across the centuries, and more particularly during the years of tribulation would have been persecuted or slaughtered. Now they can give free rein to the pleasure and gratitude to the Son of God, their Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ the Warrior Lord will be marvelled at by His people.

How?

It doesn’t say.

But to see Him as the warrior Lord clothed in His righteousness, glowing with its brilliance, will be awesome. To have witnessed His triumph over the forces of evil with the sword of His mouth, the breath of judgment, will leave them speechless. That is, until there surges forth from countless lips the Hallelujah chorus of joy. What was sung on the day He entered Jerusalem on the donkey, and not really believed by the masses, now comes true.

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonuians, goes on to say that some of his prayer life was set apart for them so the Lord will be glorified in them. There’s a principle here. The apostle turns the negative of affliction and loss into a positive. He urged his readers to see such terror as means of proving a personal worthiness for the coming Kingdom. Such worthiness shouldn’t be seen as trying to impress God. Rather it is God’s statement through the believers to the persecutors that He has made His people to be worthy. Their trust, proven under pressure, confronts a wicked world with an unassailable testimony to the Lord Jesus and His power to save and keep. When the Lord returns He will avenge His saints and honour them for their faithfulness. They will glorify Him but He will also rejoice over them.

As we celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus the Christ we also share in the expectation of its climax. Whatever our personal circumstances our hearts are set on the Lord as our saviour and our Friend as well as our Eternal God. We have a wonderful promise and hope that Christ's resurrection guarantees, Jesus is coming again.Then we will not only sing "He is risen, He is risen from the dead" or "We are waiting, we are waiting for Christ to return, we are faithful, we are faithful as we wait for Him to return." As we stand in awe before Jesus on that day our song may well be "He has come and we behold Him, Jesus has come as He promised, Jesus our Lord is with us now! Hallelujah!"

Until then we cry 'Maranatha!'

Consider the Clouds - #5 Babylon's Folly.

Babylon’s Folly

The Bible is a book about two cities. The spirit of either one is incompatible with the other and there is constant war between them. The first mentioned is Babylon, founded by Nimrod. (Genesis 10:8-11) He led the movement which has dominated the spiritual world with its darkness, the occult. (Genesis 11:1-9) Babylon is both a literal place and a spiritual force.

The other city is Jerusalem. (Genesis 14:17-24) Here we find King Melchizedek. He went out to Abram with bread and wine (a picture of Communion) and blessed Abram in the Name of God Most High, maker of heaven and earth. Jerusalem is also a literal place and a spiritual reality.

What has that to do with clouds? In Isaiah 14:12-23 the spirit of Babylon is described in graphic detail. Behind the king of Babylon is the one known as Lucifer. What was the great arrogance of Babylon? ‘You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the throne of God…I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High”.’

Remember the clouds are expressive of God’s environment. In the passage quoted you can see that the spirit of Babylon wanted to be greater than the Creator God. Babylon is a usurper, corrupter and destroyer of the things of the Almighty and Everlasting Holy God.

The sad thing is we are all born into the realm of Babylon. There is also the human weakness which imagines 'I am a god.' The sin which caused Adam and Eve's downfall is still strong. Consider the rulers of North Korea who erect statues of themselves and  desire worship. (Yet they are content to trample on the lives of their people). The reality is the human heart is enslaved by the principles of Babylon.

Unless the Lord God had established Jerusalem we would share Babylon’s fate. However God has invited people to enter its gates with thanksgiving. How?  Because Christ Jesus has conquered the power of Babylon in His death on the cross and His resurrection! We make the decision to leave the realm of Babylon to enter the realm of Jerusalem when we hear the message about Jesus Christ. To cast arrogance aside and seek the Lord God's mercy is the key to escaping the city doomed to judgement.

Read Revelation 18-19 to see the ultimate doom of this city whose arrogance wanted it to rise above the clouds. It will be brought down into the dust. That is why the call of God goes out loud and strong, ‘Come out of Babylon and don’t share in her plagues or destruction.’

Next. The clouds  which took Jesus home.

Ray (in the realm of Jerusalem) Hawkins.

Consider the Clouds #3. Clouds and the Crucifixion.

Cloud #3.              

The Cloud and the Crucifixion

When Jesus quoted the prophet Daniel about clouds Jesus sealed His fate. The man of Nazareth not only agreed with Daniel’s vision, He applied it to Himself. Daniel 7:13-14: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power, all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.’

The Jewish Sanhedrin knew this was a Messianic prophesy. They charged Jesus with blasphemy which was a death sentence. Jesus was under oath. He revealed Himself as the promised One. Linking Himself with the clouds and His claim to be the Son of God was too much for the authorities. He had to die. The occupying power, Rome had to be brought alongside as it had the sole authority for implementing the death sentence. So Pilate comes onto the scene. Against his will Pilate bows to their pressure and Jesus is crucified.

There are many aspects to Christ’s crucifixion including this statement under oath. If He was deluded, lying or telling the truth the tomb would hold the answer. If Jesus remained in the tomb (and would be there still) he was a false teacher, a liar. Therefore the testimony of His resurrection would verify His testimony given under oath (plus many, many other matters concerning the cross). The Easter message still echoes “Why seek ye the living among the dead. He (Jesus) is not here. He is risen!”

The authorities and enemies of Jesus had from A.D. 33-70 to prove it untrue. This would have been simple – show would be followers the tomb sealed and unopened. They couldn’t. After AD 70 Jerusalem was demolished by the Romans. Now the message continues to rest upon the recorded facts. The authority for believing the resurrection is solid. Check it out.

Jesus ascended to and now reigns in glory. I wonder if He is preparing the clouds for His return?

Ray (humbled by the cross) Hawkins

Next week – When the clouds took Jesus home